Aglaonema plant named ‘Indo-Princess’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Aglaonema  plant named ‘Indo-Princess’, characterized by its upright and outwardly arching plant form; relatively rapid growth rate; freely clumping habit and short internodes; full, dense and bushy appearance; broadly lanceolate leaves with acuminate apices; leaves positioned roughly horizontally to outwardly arching; upper leaf surfaces with grey green-colored leaves with darker grey green and dark green-colored spots forming chevrons and dark green-colored margins; green-colored leaf petioles with sparse and random pale yellow-colored spots and streaks; and tolerance to low temperatures.

Botanical denomination: Aglaonema hybrida.

Cultivar designation: ‘Indo-Princess’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAglaonema plant, botanically known as Aglaonema hybrida and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Indo-Princess’.

The new Aglaonema is the result of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Bangalore, India. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new compact Aglaonema cultivars with compact anddense plant habit and unique and attractive leaf coloration.

The new Aglaonema originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in 1990 of the Aglaonema commutatum cultivar Malay Lady, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Aglaonema hybridacultivar Abidjan, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newAglaonema was discovered and selected by the Inventor in 1991 as asingle plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled environment in Bangalore, India. The new Aglaonema wasselected on the basis of its compact plant habit and attractive foliagecoloration.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by vegetative cuttings sinceJune, 2000 in a controlled environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla., has shownthat the unique features of this new Aglaonema are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Indo-Princess’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Indo-Princess’ as a new and distinctcultivar of Aglaonema:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly arching plant form.    -   2. Relatively rapid growth rate.    -   3. Freely clumping habit and short internodes; full, dense and        bushy appearance.    -   4. Broadly lanceolate leaves with acuminate apices.    -   5. Leaves positioned roughly horizontally to outwardly arching.    -   6. Attractive leaf coloration; upper leaf surfaces with grey        green-colored leaves with darker grey green and dark        green-colored spots forming chevrons and dark green-colored        margins.    -   7. Green-colored leaf petioles with sparse and random pale        yellow-colored spots and streaks.    -   8. Tolerant to low temperatures.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Bangalore,India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the femaleparent, the Aglaonema commutatum cultivar Malay Lady, in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were taller than plants of the        cultivar Malay Lady.    -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more freely clumping than        plants of the cultivar Malay Lady.    -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema had broader leaves than plants of        the cultivar Malay Lady.    -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Malay Lady        differed in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Malay Lady        had dark green-colored leaves with irregular grey green-colored        bands.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Bangalore,India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the maleparent, the Aglaonema hybrida cultivar Abidjan, in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more compact than plants of        the cultivar Abidjan.    -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more freely clumping than        plants of the cultivar Abidjan.    -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema had smaller leaves than plants of        the cultivar Abidjan.    -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Abidjan differed        in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Abidjan had silver        gray-colored leaves with irregular green-colored veinal bands        and faint gray green-colored patches.

Plants of the new Aglaonema can also be compared to plants of thecultivar Silver Queen, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed fromplants of the Aglaonema cultivar Silver Queen in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema grew more rapidly than plants of        the cultivar Silver Queen.    -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema had larger leaves than plants of        the cultivar Silver Queen.    -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Silver Queen        differed in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Silver        Queen were lighter green in color.    -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more low temperature        tolerant than plants of the cultivar Silver Queen.

Plants of the new Aglaonema can also be compared to plants of thecultivar Maria Christina, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed fromplants of the Aglaonema cultivar Maria Christina in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema grew more rapidly than plants of        the cultivar Maria Christina.    -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more freely clumping than        plants of the cultivar Maria Christina.    -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema had larger leaves than plants of        the cultivar Maria Christina.    -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Maria Christina        differed in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Maria        Christina were lighter green in color.    -   5. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more low temperature        tolerant than plants of the cultivar Maria Christina.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Aglaonema, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Aglaonema.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Indo-Princess’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical leavesof ‘Indo-Princess’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Indo-Princess have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants of the new Aglaonema that were grown in25-cm containers, in Zolfo Springs, Fla., in a polypropylene-coveredshadehouse with light levels about 2,000 to 3,000 foot-candles. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 23° C. to 35°C. and night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 26° C. Plants used forthe photographs and description were about one year from planting. Colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Aglaonema hybrida cultivar Indo-Princess.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Aglaonema commutatum cultivar Malay            Lady, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Aglaonema hybrida cultivar Abidjan,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 12 to 15 days at            27° C. Winter: About 20 to 24 days at 16° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant.—Summer: About one month at            27° C. Winter: About two months at 16° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous, fleshy, and            freely-branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form.—Erect when young, becoming outwardly arching as            leaves develop; inverted triangle, symmetrical and uniform.        -   Vigor/growth rate.—Vigorous; relatively rapid growth rate.            Plant size appropriate for 25-cm containers.        -   Growth habit.—Freely clumping habit; plants typically            produce about 16 offshoots per plant; full, dense and bushy            appearance.        -   Plant height.—About 46 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 72 cm.        -   Stem description.—Length: About 15 cm. Diameter: About            1.4 cm. Internode length: About 1.2 cm. Aspect: Upright to            outwardly arching. Strength: Good. Color: 147A.        -   Foliage description.—Appearance: Single; clasping. Length:            About 26.2 cm. Width: About 10.2 cm. Shape: Broadly            lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Obtuse to cordate.            Margin: Entire; undulating. Orientation: Initially upright            to roughly horizontal to outwardly arching. Texture: Mostly            smooth, slightly rugose; glabrous; thick and leathery.            Veins: Slightly recessed on upper surface and prominent on            lower surface. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing            and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 191A to            191B; spots forming chevrons, 189A to more green than 189A            and some darker green than 147A; margins, darker green than            147A. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface:            Closest to 137A. Venation, upper surface: Midvein, close to            147A; lateral veins, similar to lamina. Venation, lower            surface: Midvein, close to 146A; lateral veins, similar to            lamina. Petiole: Aspect: Erect to bent. Length: About            12.2 cm. Diameter, distal: About 1.5 cm. Diameter, proximal:            About 4 mm. Wing length: About 8.4 cm. Wing diameter: About            7.5 mm. Color, petiole and wing: Close to 147A with sparse            and random spots and streaks, close to 4D.-   Inflorescence description: Inflorescence development has not been    observed on plants of the new Aglaonema grown under shadehouse    production conditions.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Aglaonema have been    observed to be resistant to root pathogens common to Aglaonema such    as Phytophthora. Plants of the new Aglaonema have not been observed    to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Aglaonema.-   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Aglaonema have been observed to    be tolerant to wind, rain and temperatures ranging from 7 to 41° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant named ‘Indo-Princess’,as illustrated and described.